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NOAA weather forecast maps often include a valid time period, e.g: "valid from time1 thru time2." However, many maps only indicate a single time, e.g: "valid time1." In the absence of other information, does this typically (or officially) mean valid up until time1, or valid after time1?

EDIT: Link to example map and source

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    $\begingroup$ Welcome to SE Earth Science! Might I ask which products you are looking at? Maybe include a URL? $\endgroup$ – BarocliniCplusplus Oct 28 '18 at 1:28
  • $\begingroup$ Generally, it is used to add context to a map, so that it is representative of a given time or a forecast made on a specific date. But without seeing the type of product, it is hard to determine which case it is. $\endgroup$ – BarocliniCplusplus Oct 28 '18 at 1:30
  • $\begingroup$ Sure - links added in Edit $\endgroup$ – Dyneken Oct 28 '18 at 18:11
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Short answer: Valid just means the expected conditions at that certain time.

In your example the map shows a forecast of 00 hours which is valid for 0600 UTC. Basically it means that the forecast/simulation is initialized on 0600 UTC and because the forecast time is 00 hours this forecast is also valid for 0600 UTC.

NOAA also provides forecasts for several hours (or days depending on the product). In this case, your simulation may be initialized on 0600 UTC but if you want to see what the conditions on 1500 UTC are you have a forecast of 09 hours which is valid for 1500 UTC. See this example.

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    $\begingroup$ Right on. Dyneken when NOAA issues a warning/watch/advisory (including a SIGMET I believe), it's for a time window. But for a general value forecast/graphic, they are typically for a specific time. Valid on such products basically means "at that moment, the conditions are expected to be..." If you want to get an idea of what to expect at 0630Z... you would want to look at the 0600Z product and the 0700Z product, and it will probably be somewhere in between those two hours if the forecast is good. $\endgroup$ – JeopardyTempest Oct 29 '18 at 7:49
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    $\begingroup$ Bollenhek - great, much clearer now. And JeopardyTempest -very good to know about interpolation between valid times. Thanks! $\endgroup$ – Dyneken Oct 31 '18 at 20:32
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Since the question was referencing an aviation weather product (links no longer functional), there is a contextual answer as well. The aircraft dispatcher for an airline flight must plan the flight according to FAA regulations, some of which apply to weather information. Only specific sources of weather observations and forecast products are authorized, and the "VALID" period must also be taken into account.

If I'm planning a flight that will depart at 1400Z and arrive at 1755Z, I am not authorized to use a forecast product that was issued at 00Z and is valid at 1800Z. Even though this forecast product was issued prior to me starting to plan the flight, and thus is possibly the "most recently published product available", the product was produced for a specific valid period - namely, from 1800Z onward. I would have to reference as different product that was "valid" during my scheduled flight window.

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